Electrophysiologic studies: recent experience at the Charleston Area Medical Center.

Electrophysiologic studies (EPS) were performed in 122 patients for evaluation of supraventricular tachycardia (16 patients), syncope (30 patients), ventricular tachycardia (48 patients), sudden cardiac death (7 patients), and other reasons (21 patients). Sixty patients had an induced sustained supraventricular and/or ventricular arrhythmia. Therapy was rendered to all 60 patients based on the results of the EPS. The evaluation and treatment of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias is assisted by EPS. The capability of inducing the clinical arrhythmia, determination of the arrhythmia mechanism, and evaluation of the response to various pharmacologic agents improves therapeutic choices. Patient morbidity from cardiac arrhythmias is thereby reduced.